When I'm Sixty-Four
The Beatles Lyrics
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Many years from now
Will you still be sending me a Valentine
Birthday greetings bottle of wine
If I'd been out till quarter to three
Would you lock the door
Will you still need me, will you still feed me
When I'm sixty-four
You'll be older too
And if you say the word
I could stay with you
I could be handy, mending a fuse
When your lights have gone
You can knit a sweater by the fireside
Sunday mornings go for a ride
Doing the garden, digging the weeds
Who could ask for more
Will you still need me, will you still feed me
When I'm sixty-four
Every summer we can rent a cottage
In the Isle of Wight, if it's not too dear
We shall scrimp and save
Grandchildren on your knee
Vera, Chuck and Dave
Send me a postcard, drop me a line
Stating point of view
Indicate precisely what you mean to say
Yours sincerely, wasting away
Give me your answer, fill in a form
Mine for evermore
Will you still need me, will you still feed me
When I'm sixty-four
"When I'm Sixty-Four" is a compassionate song about the uncertainties and insecurities of old age. The lyrics depict the fears of a man who is aging and losing his hair, questioning if his partner is still going to love him and support him when he's old and weak. The song is a plea to remain together, to continue to love and support each other when the gloss has faded and only the love remains. The simple expressions like "losing my hair," "Sunday mornings go for a ride," "Doing the garden, digging the weeds," and "Grandchildren on your knee" are touching representations of the everyday, but essential things in life that the singer wants to continue to do with his partner even when he's sixty-four.
The Beatles’ “When I’m Sixty-Four” is an optimistic and upbeat number that reveals Paul McCartney’s talent for crafting simple, catchy tunes with clever lyrics. The punchy beat and jaunty melody are in contrast to the sentimentality of the lyrics, touching on themes of aging, longevity, and companionship. It’s often regarded as one of the Beatles' most whimsical songs, and its appearance on 1967’s masterpiece Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band proves how comfortable the band was with both its experimentation and sentiment in equal measure.
Line by Line Meaning
When I get older losing my hair
As I age and lose physical qualities, will you still love me the same?
Many years from now
In the distant future, when we're both much older
Will you still be sending me a Valentine
Will you still make romantic gestures
Birthday greetings bottle of wine
Will you still make me feel special on my birthday
If I'd been out till quarter to three
If I stay out late with friends
Would you lock the door
Will you still worry about my safety
Will you still need me, will you still feed me
Will you still value me as a partner, and take care of me
When I'm sixty-four
When I'm much older
You'll be older too
You will also grow old
And if you say the word
If you agree to it
I could stay with you
I'll be there for you
I could be handy, mending a fuse
I can be useful around the house
When your lights have gone
When your lights don't work
You can knit a sweater by the fireside
You can spend time doing crafts
Sunday mornings go for a ride
Take leisurely drives on Sunday mornings
Doing the garden, digging the weeds
Work together in the garden
Who could ask for more
What more could we ask for
Every summer we can rent a cottage
We can plan a vacation every year
In the Isle of Wight, if it's not too dear
Visit the Isle of Wight if it's affordable
We shall scrimp and save
We will save our money
Grandchildren on your knee
Spend time with our grandchildren
Vera, Chuck and Dave
Names of our imaginary grandchildren
Send me a postcard, drop me a line
Stay in touch with each other
Stating point of view
Tell me how you feel
Indicate precisely what you mean to say
Be clear in your message
Yours sincerely, wasting away
Closing of a letter, indicating the writer's deteriorating health
Give me your answer, fill in a form
Let me know your decision, make it official
Mine for evermore
We're in this for the long haul, forever
Will you still need me, will you still feed me
Repeating the theme of the song, asking if we'll still love and take care of each other when we're old
When I'm sixty-four
Closing line, a gentle reminder of the theme of the song
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Lennon, Paul McCartney
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Philip Kassabian
A very tuneful Beatles song.